I passed my bike test in 2002. My first proper solo trip was in 2003. I live in Northern Ireland. My friend and his wife had moved to Alicante on the east coast of Spain. I was full of bravado when I was planning the trip but when I woke up on the morning of departure I had a major anxiety attack. I tried to find a sore part of my body to justify cancelling the adventure. I couldn't find one so I thought I'd give it a go. I gave myself a challenge to reach a certain road junction 30 miles from home and I was either gonna go on or I was gonna turn back. I got there, I made the right decision and I went on with the trip. Once I had made the decision I was filled with excitement and laughter and I think it is still the best trip I ever made. Since then I have gone to Europe almost every year and the thrill of motorcycle travel is still as strong with me 22 years since that first trip.
Anxiety evaporates when one rides in/with F A I T H ... in HE who has watched over you and kept you safe to this point in life, having the courage to "step out of the boat" ... and walk on it.
One of my favorite things to do on a motorcycle is solo camping. The solitude helps me stay grounded, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and confidence. As a follower of Christ, times of solitude allow me to listen to Christ, reflect, meditate on His word, pray, and ultimately find a renewed sense of peace. And finally, it always makes me appreciate home. But I'm not home long before I start planning the next trip.
I was a pre prep kind of guy, I thought that was best to ensure things would go off with out a hitch. 2 years ago I was a physical therapist earning good money, running 30 miles a week, 2 motorcycles, living at the beach, kayaking and a bunch of other stuff. Then the injury happened and all of things my life was going, came to a sudden stop. Not even sure I would walk again. I don't see problems anymore. I see all of it as an adventure now. Can not prep for the un- expected . Relax, this will pass and will have a great story to tell. 😊
The unexpected is definitely what makes an adventure and makes for great stories. I have some "great stories" (not from riding) that at the time weren't fun at all. Some of them are even comical in retrospect. Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to your next video.
Back in 2005, I was 45 yrs old and had contemplated getting my motorcycle license for sometime but our nanny state Government up until then had everyone riding on nothing larger than a 250cc until 12 Months, then you could go on any size you wanted, in it's wisdom, the State Government here in NSW Australia decided to bring in a new plan to allow new riders to learn on bikes of no more than 650cc as long as the power to weight ratio didn't exceed 150kw/tonne, so to give you an example, I wanted to buy the Suzuki 650 V-strom but couldn't because it exceeded the p/w ratio by about 7 kilowatts or something like about 10 horsepower so I settled on a little black Kawasaki ER500 parallel twin, great little bike for learning on and it turns out an awesome little tourer. I have ridden motorcycles from an early age but never bothered with a license til then. So as soon as I got off my L plates, because i was a fully licensed Driver, I was non restricted other than motor size and could not carry a pillion passenger. I didn't have to wear the Provisional P plates like real learners do. The idea behind the larger sized learner bikes was it helped to prevent learners going from the 250ccs to something well in excess of 1200ccs once they go off their restrictions and that they'd stick to a mid size for a bit longer, it did cut down on 'earner deaths. So here I was, had a couple of weeks Holidays so I packed some luggage on the little Kawasaki and headed North, it was November, a rather stormy part of the year in Australia especially on the eastside and up through the ranges, I had not ridden long i could see storms gethering over the hills so I stopped and put my rain over-suit on and then it began to rain heavily and now I'm looking for bail-out places and I spotted what looked like a small gas station (we call them service stations even though we have to do self service) so I headed for there and under the awning, no sooner i put my side stand down and it began to hail really bad, hail stones about golf ball size, sheeesh, that was lucky....so waiting it out, i munched on a meat pie and a chocolate milkshake till it finished then headed off up the road further, no more rain for a while and when i got to the next fuelling point, i also stripped off my rain suit and packed it away, pre-maturely it turned out because i got hit with more rain further up the New England ranges and arrived in the horse stud town of Scone, I found an abandoned gas station up ahead and rode up under it's cover, no sooner did it get under cover, 3 more hail storms came through, i was half drenched and it was nearly 7pm by then so i had enough for the day, rode across to a motel across the road and booked in. Next day, I road a good distance, air a bit humid but comfy, until i got within 25 miles (40kms) of my Sister's house and I got drenched once again....I stayed a couple of days with my Sister and waited for everything to dry out then I headed towards the east and towards my Parent's place but first called into my Aunty Joyce's place and she filled me up with scones (American Biscuits) with jam and fresh cream straight from the morning's milking, then had to head down 3,000ft range towards the Coast, it was extremely foggy and misty on the top approach on the range so going down was going to be quite nerve wracking, I could barely see 20 foot in front of me and a small Toyota Corolla going the same direction so I followed his tail lights praying that he wouldn't go off the edge because I'd be straight in after him hahaha. Anyway some of the mountain S-bends were taken at a very sedate 25kph (15MPH) not much faster than a bicycle but we made it without slipping off anywhere on the moss covered winding Highway and I was very proud of myself the way I handled such wet conditions so I got to the Parents place and stayed for a couple of days before heading towards home in Sydney. Rode another 500kms to my Aunt's in Newcastle and stayed the night then headed into the crazy City of Sydney, it was when I rode off the Motorway onto another arterial road when this idiot in a car towing a trailer decided to cut the corner and almost pushing me into the curb......ok survived that one too, always get anxiety having to work my way through the City which was another 80kms till i arrived home, there were no real shortcuts through Sydney. So as I arrived into my driveway, my very first Motorcycle experience on a tour was completed, 2,000km or 1,200 miles and never left the State of NSW (New South Wales) It was exhilarating, so many different climate changes I went through in that tour, it was a great experience that I learnt so much from and I always suggest to any new rider is when they get off their restrictions, pack up the bike and do a solo tour, you'll learn more doing that than just doing short day rides.
The most anxiety I suffer from is usually late in the day and not having a place to stay. I now plan my trips after labor day when tourism dies down and camp grounds and motels are less crowded. Managing my gas is my second worry. I ran out of gas a mile out of a town so now I carry a Quart of Tru-fuel with me. Dropping a 700 pound machine on a sand road was no fun either. My BMW is very comfortable but the low speed balance is poor. These problems were resolved easy enough because we don't live in a third world country. Preparation is the key to survival by pulling in your drive way when the trip is over. Booking another adventure in your memories that you can relive on those cold snowy days while you browse through the Rand McNally for next years trip. I'm 67 years old and fully retired.
It sounds like you've figured out the right times to avoid the crowds. Having to pick up a 700 pound bike doesn't sound like fun at all, but I guess the positive spin on that is "I'm getting exercise."
@@RestlessMule Unless you pull a ham-string like I did 4 years ago and it took 9 months for it to heal. I do exercises now to try and prevent it. 2 years ago it was my sciatica nerve, made it difficult to sit, the year before that it was my shoulders. An exercise regiment helps me ride with little or no pain.
@@richardvarnold6245 ouch, anyone of those issues is sure to affect riding, especially if you’re in a situation where you’re lifting the bike. I hope the exercise regiment continues to help so you can enjoy riding.
I prefer to travel alone. After having travelled with people of differing interests, different tastes in food, lodging preferences etc etc etc, I now prefer my own company. I have done several trips in the 6 to 10 thousand kilometre range. Then two years ago I rode across Canada to the east coast, took a ferry to Maine, and rode back across the center of the US to Montana, then back up to Alberta. In all, about 25,000 kilometres. I find my mood changes when I reach that imaginary line where I am now heading back towards my home. As you mention, I’m never really alone. Pretty much every gas stop will see someone asking about my bike, where I’m from, where I’m going etc etc. Even while cleaning my bike outside my accommodations at night, I’ll often have inquiries. But, when I leave that accommodation in the morning, for a time, I feel “homeless” again as I get back on the Hwy. Yet I carry on. And this year, for my 70th year, I will do it all over again. See ya out there!
I had some anxiety on my first ever solo trip but now i have nothing but excitement and totally enjoy my own company and look forward to meeting new people along the way.. Riding solo rocks....
1.26.25. I’ve done a couple of solo motorcycle trips. I retired last spring so this summer I plan on doing a couple of 2 to 3 week solo ventures. I prepare for most of the common issues you can have with a motorcycle, such as flat tires, spare spark plugs, ignition module, ignition, pick ups, I also make sure that my bike is in top condition, such as carburetors being rebuilt and synced. I ride an older 1985 four-cylinder Goldwing GL 1200. I also know how to do all the mechanical and electrical maintenance. As for other problems, such as shady people, I have another companion with me…. Mr .38 Spl 👉🏼I have found the vast majority of people are very friendly, but I always am alert and aware of my surroundings.☝🏼
I relate to the anxiety thing. I made two long-distance round trip solo rides (Hampton, VA to Biloxi MS and Biloxi, MS to Las Vegas) many years ago. I was in my mid 30s and felt bulletproof and immortal. I'm retired now and would like to plan a long one next summer. My anxiety stems from the fact that I'm now 71 but my health is good and my bike is in good shape. I have to try to overcome my anxiety that I think is based on the fact that I'm now aware of my mortality which I think makes the small doubts mushroom up into big ones. During my other trips, I often found myself looking for a hotel at the end of the day when it was after riding too many miles and I was too tired to make good judgements. I was amazed at how hard it could be to find a decent hotel that didn't force me to park my bike out in a 2-acre parking lot with no way to secure it. Most of my riding was done on freeway tarmac and I don't remember seeing very much on the trip to Vegas and back. In those days my itinerary was chosen by the amount of time I could be away from work. On the last day of my return from Vegas I rode 800 miles and don't remember much except a lot of pain. Now that I'm retired, time is not a major issue anymore and stopping early enough in the day to select a hotel that I'm comfortable with will be the way to go. I'll be planning for secondary roads and slightly slower road speeds this time. I have a cell phone but rarely use it. The map function comes in handy if I have to drive/ride through major cities. I'll be taking it to search out hotels and average travel times when needed, but I was raised using road maps and I plan on taking one with me again. The loneliness thing is not a major issue for me. I'm an introvert by nature and usually enjoy my own company, but I am certainly able to converse with strangers. Thanks for reminding me to "enjoy the ride". regards, Ken
Yeah, those are some long trips you've done. 800 miles is quite a haul in a day and i have to imagine you were feeling it the next day. I hope you enjoy your next trip and keep doing it as long as possible.
Dude, every time you make a video, it's better than the last! After riding in the bush a few times out of cell service, I ended up getting a two way satellite communicator. I was super anxious about getting hurt and not being able to get help. At the very least I can send my wife a message to say I'm going to be few hours longer than expected even if I get a flat tire in the bush.
Thank you very much. The satellite communicator is nice because you can still get a message out, but yeah, definitely have to keep in mind that doesn't mean help will show up immediately. How is the bike? Have you had a chance to diagnose the issue yet?
@ my communicator does text so I can message home if I don’t need emergency services…it’s pretty cool. It’s a two way. Cleaned the carb, jets were plugged. Going to test it in the hwy…today hopefully.
Restless - I really enjoyed your video. As a 74 year old guy the thought of venturing out alone is intimidating, exciting and a must do. Thank you for the encouragement. I was wondering what kind of bike you’re on and where were you riding in this video?
Good stuff! It is always best to be open-minded to change when solo motorcycle traveling. Sometimes, I try not to think long about a travel plan because I'll ended up changing my mind😄. I will just get out and go. I enjoy solo traveling mostly because I can go at my pace. Thanks for sharing!! Stay safe!!
That's really good advice. Doing it without thinking is good because you don't allow yourself time to think of all the reasons you shouldn't do it. 😆 Thanks a bunch for sharing that tip. Ride safe.
You definitely have a great voice for narration I''ll say that - makes it very easy to listen to your videos. I fully understand a lot of what you are relating here. Travel worries are probably far more pronounced simply due the the sheer size of the North American continent - you can be a very long way from anything, far more so than it's possible to be on our little island where even the remotest places aren't that far from civilization. There's also very little likelihood of being killed by the wildlife or the weather over here. I took a three week road trip to the US west and midwest back in the mid nineties. There were three of us and the excuse was a visit to a friend in the USAF who we had met through motorcycling when he was stationed at RAF Mildenhall, by then back in Great Falls, Montana - one of the bases responsible for the missile silos. We didn't plan much and only booked a hotel room for our first two nights in SF. Then we just headed out and made it up as we went along. No phones back then, no satnav - just maps. On reflection, the thought of being stranded on a desert highway where we barely saw another vehicle for hours at a time might have, indeed probably should have been daunting but at the time, I guess we weren't "borrowing tomorrow's troubles" as you put it. Maybe we were just not smart enough to worry! It was a long trip and one I'll never forget. We got to see and experience so much - we would roll up in a town and, if we liked it, find a motel - never had any trouble securing a bed for the night and we met some amazing people on our travels and received tremendous hospitality pretty much every place we wound up in - the real America, not the media version for sure. Covered something like 4500 miles all told - from the west coast across to South Dakota, up to Glacier National Park and the Going To The Sun Road. We saw the Giant Redwoods, Yosemite, The Little Bighorn, The Devil's Tower in Wyoming, Yellowstone, The Needles Highway, and far too much more to list but the states we travelled through included California, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, & South Dakota. As Englishmen, we were a pretty rare oddity in most of the places we found ourselves and that alone led to some long and fascinating cultural encounters and probably too much time spent in too many bars!
😆 I got a good laugh at that last sentence. That's an incredible trip; something a lot of Americans never experience. I imagine people immediately picked up on the English accents and that piqued their interest. I'm curious what you did for motorcycle maintenance on a trip of that length. Did you find a shop along the way or did you do your own maintenance in a parking lot.
@@RestlessMule Sorry, got carried away with my rambling, I should have made it clear, that wasn't a bike trip although I sorely wish it could have been - we were in a rental Crown Vic 🤣 Not very glamourous but it did the job and it was still an incredible experience. The accent thing, well, a lot of people figured us for Aussies - oh the horror! One guy, I think it was in West Yellowstone, thought that all English people sounded like the Queen - us peasants soon put that notion to bed. I'm not sure anyone would have rented us motorcycles even back then - at least not without some kind of mileage limitations and probably a great many other conditions and we obviously couldn't have brought our own with us. I have done a little riding Stateside but nothing on the scale of that journey. Nowadays, I probably couldn't afford it anymore, even if I had the opportunity. I'm grateful that I got it all done before settling down and having a family when such things had to take a back seat. The cost back then though was cheap, especially since the pound was worth over $2 and gas was about 99c a gallon.
@@Old_Geezer ok, now I understand and have a great mental picture of a group of Englishmen traveling the American West in a Crown Vic. 🤣 I feel like that should be a plot for a movie. Hopefully you realize I don’t mean that to be disrespectful. I’ll confess I’m not exactly a sophisticated American, but I at least know there are various English accents, and the same is true with Aussies. Granted, I can’t identify them, but I can hear a difference. Truth be told, a lot of Americans have trouble identifying various regional accents of fellow Americans. I’ve never been to England, but hope to get there someday. I’m not sure how confident I’d be driving on the left side of the road though.
@@RestlessMule No offence taken at all - you're right, it does paint a picture of a string of potential comedic situations and/or disasters 😅 As for sophistication, it's often the case that those who lay claim to it are refined only in their own imagination. What travelling in America taught me is that each state is almost a country within a country and the differences can be quite marked. As I say, we had nothing but positive experiences and the kind, open, friendly and helpful people we met along the way and how they treated us was one of the best aspects of the whole experience. If you do ever get to the UK, driving on the left is something you'll adapt to easily enough I'm sure. When I lived in the Cayman Islands, where they drive on the left, there were plenty of American and Canadian drivers who happily drove on the "wrong side of the road" . I drove a Chevy Silverado over there, which was obviously left hand drive but with a right hand drive car, driving on the left feels the natural thing to do. On two wheels, none of that matters of course 😁
@ You are correct about the differences between states. I was born and raised in Louisiana, but I’ve lived in Texas for over 20 years now. Louisiana is far smaller than Texas, but even within Louisiana accents can vary noticeably depending on what part of the state you’re in. Ironically, I visited Grand Cayman last summer with my family and that’s the only time I’ve been somewhere that drives on the left side of the road. Within the first 5 minutes of leaving the car rental center I turned on my windshield wipers no less than 8 times when meaning to use the turn signal. I was fine remembering to stay on the left side of the road, but every time I turned I had to remind myself which direction I should be looking for traffic. I was instinctually looking both left and right when I needed to make a left turn. I took my two kids on a snorkeling trip. A driver picked us up in a Chevy Suburban. He and I chatted for about two or three minutes before I blurted out “wait a minute, you’re on the left side of the car. The steering wheel is on the left!”
Another great video of a very important topic that everyone has experienced at some point in their travels.... As the Magpie Flies is a great channel, I agree
Thank you. I really enjoy watching As the Magpie Flies. Amanda does amazing trips, produces great videos, and she always comes across as down to Earth. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I was forced into a 10 day trip to Spain last year and I had a lot of trepidation even though I’d booked ferry and hotels upfront. I thought about taking a biking friend along who was hinting he’d be very interested, but decided to go solo. I absolutely loved the trip and really wanted it to last far longer and I’ve just booked 14 days in Portugal on another solo trip and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just do it.
I certainly have some anxiety but surprisingly not necessarily while I'm riding. Maybe it's just because I'm focused on the task and not thinking about everything else. But I agree with others. Finding a place to stay at the end of the day can be stressful if not prepared.
I've had the same experience. I don't have anxiety when I'm on the ride and out doing things. The anxiety is in the lead up to going on the trip. Fortunately, I've found that it diminishes with each trip I do and the more times I go through it, the more I can look back and say "I'm worrying for no reason; it worked out all those other times." Thanks for sharing your experience.
I hope to get there soon. For me the anxiety is most apparent in the lead up and planning and typically once I'm actually doing it everything just fades away and I'm enjoying things. Thanks for watching.
Imagine a cross between Mr Bean and Basil Faulty on a broken down motorbike in a sandstorm in the middle of the Sahara desert ... anyway for me this anxiousness becomes the norm, almost a friend, the issues for me are when I arrive home and my friend departs leaving me somewhat discombobulated and anxious that I am not anxious anymore 🤣 this anxiousness is there for a reason, make a friend of it, it can save your bacon..... go go go people.
Timing! I literally just released a video yesterday about the benefits of riding with a buddy. 😁 I encourage you, and everyone else, to check it out. Curious to hear your thoughts in contrast to this vid theme. I've ridden for decades, and understand the draw of solo riding, even preferred it during phases. Nice content. Cheers.
Your description states this is not professional advice. What will it take for you to become a professional? You certainly sound like a professional. Ok, on with the video. Hit me with the slow fade between clips. Dude! Ok, back to the video… I personally am not an anxious person so I can only imagine taking a trip, let alone the solo variety, could make one extremely anxious. Having a video like this one is a perfect way to combat the challenge. When it comes to lodging, I would rather know that there are a few places to choose if my main game plan was to take a detour. There are so many variables involved with travel that are uncontrollable. For example, that flat tire on my truck is a quick 15 min pitstop on the side of the road for me, but if it was on my motorcycle… Instead of anxiety, I would battle unnecessary stress. The last thing you want to do is be stressed out while riding in unfamiliar territory. The problem is reservations are just that. You may stop somewhere in my thought process and see a no vacancy sign. I’ll be sleeping outside it seems. Hearing a wolf howl in this distance, well maybe I would be a little anxious after all. Your ”what ifs” is Murphy’s Law. It does unfortunately exist. Nice phrase about not borrowing tomorrow’s trouble. Very true. There is enough to worry/plan/enjoy today without getting distracted. Great video and topic to follow last week’s episode my friend!!!
Yeah, not a professional in the sense that I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. However, I have plenty of experience with it. LOL I've been fortunate that the only time I got a flat on my bike I was only about 20 minutes from my house. I hope my "what ifs" aren't Murphy's law since that is "anything that can go wrong will go wrong." 😆 Most of my anxiety issues are leading up to the trip and once I'm doing it I get in a groove and it doesn't really bother me. I hadn't really thought of covering this topic beforehand, but some of the comments I saw on the previous video got me to thinking about it. It was a bit strange that I was a day or two into putting this video together when I saw As the Magpie Flies put out a new video in which she had an issue on her trip that caused her anxiety and she spoke some of her experiences.
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I passed my bike test in 2002. My first proper solo trip was in 2003. I live in Northern Ireland. My friend and his wife had moved to Alicante on the east coast of Spain. I was full of bravado when I was planning the trip but when I woke up on the morning of departure I had a major anxiety attack. I tried to find a sore part of my body to justify cancelling the adventure. I couldn't find one so I thought I'd give it a go. I gave myself a challenge to reach a certain road junction 30 miles from home and I was either gonna go on or I was gonna turn back. I got there, I made the right decision and I went on with the trip. Once I had made the decision I was filled with excitement and laughter and I think it is still the best trip I ever made. Since then I have gone to Europe almost every year and the thrill of motorcycle travel is still as strong with me 22 years since that first trip.
That's a great story...and lesson. Thank you for sharing.
Love solo travel, stop when i want, see what I want.and it just me and motorcycle
Anxiety evaporates when one rides in/with F A I T H ... in HE who has watched over you and kept you safe to this point in life, having the courage to "step out of the boat" ... and walk on it.
One of my favorite things to do on a motorcycle is solo camping. The solitude helps me stay grounded, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and confidence. As a follower of Christ, times of solitude allow me to listen to Christ, reflect, meditate on His word, pray, and ultimately find a renewed sense of peace. And finally, it always makes me appreciate home. But I'm not home long before I start planning the next trip.
I hear ya Jude.. Amen....
I was a pre prep kind of guy, I thought that was best to ensure things would go off with out a hitch. 2 years ago I was a physical therapist earning good money, running 30 miles a week, 2 motorcycles, living at the beach, kayaking and a bunch of other stuff. Then the injury happened and all of things my life was going, came to a sudden stop. Not even sure I would walk again. I don't see problems anymore. I see all of it as an adventure now. Can not prep for the un- expected . Relax, this will pass and will have a great story to tell. 😊
Great perspective!
The unexpected is definitely what makes an adventure and makes for great stories. I have some "great stories" (not from riding) that at the time weren't fun at all. Some of them are even comical in retrospect. Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to your next video.
Back in 2005, I was 45 yrs old and had contemplated getting my motorcycle license for sometime but our nanny state Government up until then had everyone riding on nothing larger than a 250cc until 12 Months, then you could go on any size you wanted, in it's wisdom, the State Government here in NSW Australia decided to bring in a new plan to allow new riders to learn on bikes of no more than 650cc as long as the power to weight ratio didn't exceed 150kw/tonne, so to give you an example, I wanted to buy the Suzuki 650 V-strom but couldn't because it exceeded the p/w ratio by about 7 kilowatts or something like about 10 horsepower so I settled on a little black Kawasaki ER500 parallel twin, great little bike for learning on and it turns out an awesome little tourer. I have ridden motorcycles from an early age but never bothered with a license til then. So as soon as I got off my L plates, because i was a fully licensed Driver, I was non restricted other than motor size and could not carry a pillion passenger. I didn't have to wear the Provisional P plates like real learners do.
The idea behind the larger sized learner bikes was it helped to prevent learners going from the 250ccs to something well in excess of 1200ccs once they go off their restrictions and that they'd stick to a mid size for a bit longer, it did cut down on 'earner deaths.
So here I was, had a couple of weeks Holidays so I packed some luggage on the little Kawasaki and headed North, it was November, a rather stormy part of the year in Australia especially on the eastside and up through the ranges, I had not ridden long i could see storms gethering over the hills so I stopped and put my rain over-suit on and then it began to rain heavily and now I'm looking for bail-out places and I spotted what looked like a small gas station (we call them service stations even though we have to do self service) so I headed for there and under the awning, no sooner i put my side stand down and it began to hail really bad, hail stones about golf ball size, sheeesh, that was lucky....so waiting it out, i munched on a meat pie and a chocolate milkshake till it finished then headed off up the road further, no more rain for a while and when i got to the next fuelling point, i also stripped off my rain suit and packed it away, pre-maturely it turned out because i got hit with more rain further up the New England ranges and arrived in the horse stud town of Scone, I found an abandoned gas station up ahead and rode up under it's cover, no sooner did it get under cover, 3 more hail storms came through, i was half drenched and it was nearly 7pm by then so i had enough for the day, rode across to a motel across the road and booked in.
Next day, I road a good distance, air a bit humid but comfy, until i got within 25 miles (40kms) of my Sister's house and I got drenched once again....I stayed a couple of days with my Sister and waited for everything to dry out then I headed towards the east and towards my Parent's place but first called into my Aunty Joyce's place and she filled me up with scones (American Biscuits) with jam and fresh cream straight from the morning's milking, then had to head down 3,000ft range towards the Coast, it was extremely foggy and misty on the top approach on the range so going down was going to be quite nerve wracking, I could barely see 20 foot in front of me and a small Toyota Corolla going the same direction so I followed his tail lights praying that he wouldn't go off the edge because I'd be straight in after him hahaha.
Anyway some of the mountain S-bends were taken at a very sedate 25kph (15MPH) not much faster than a bicycle but we made it without slipping off anywhere on the moss covered winding Highway and I was very proud of myself the way I handled such wet conditions so I got to the Parents place and stayed for a couple of days before heading towards home in Sydney. Rode another 500kms to my Aunt's in Newcastle and stayed the night then headed into the crazy City of Sydney, it was when I rode off the Motorway onto another arterial road when this idiot in a car towing a trailer decided to cut the corner and almost pushing me into the curb......ok survived that one too, always get anxiety having to work my way through the City which was another 80kms till i arrived home, there were no real shortcuts through Sydney. So as I arrived into my driveway, my very first Motorcycle experience on a tour was completed, 2,000km or 1,200 miles and never left the State of NSW (New South Wales) It was exhilarating, so many different climate changes I went through in that tour, it was a great experience that I learnt so much from and I always suggest to any new rider is when they get off their restrictions, pack up the bike and do a solo tour, you'll learn more doing that than just doing short day rides.
The most anxiety I suffer from is usually late in the day and not having a place to stay. I now plan my trips after labor day when tourism dies down and camp grounds and motels are less crowded. Managing my gas is my second worry. I ran out of gas a mile out of a town so now I carry a Quart of Tru-fuel with me. Dropping a 700 pound machine on a sand road was no fun either. My BMW is very comfortable but the low speed balance is poor. These problems were resolved easy enough because we don't live in a third world country. Preparation is the key to survival by pulling in your drive way when the trip is over. Booking another adventure in your memories that you can relive on those cold snowy days while you browse through the Rand McNally for next years trip. I'm 67 years old and fully retired.
It sounds like you've figured out the right times to avoid the crowds. Having to pick up a 700 pound bike doesn't sound like fun at all, but I guess the positive spin on that is "I'm getting exercise."
@@RestlessMule Unless you pull a ham-string like I did 4 years ago and it took 9 months for it to heal. I do exercises now to try and prevent it. 2 years ago it was my sciatica nerve, made it difficult to sit, the year before that it was my shoulders. An exercise regiment helps me ride with little or no pain.
@@richardvarnold6245 ouch, anyone of those issues is sure to affect riding, especially if you’re in a situation where you’re lifting the bike. I hope the exercise regiment continues to help so you can enjoy riding.
I prefer to travel alone. After having travelled with people of differing interests, different tastes in food, lodging preferences etc etc etc, I now prefer my own company. I have done several trips in the 6 to 10 thousand kilometre range. Then two years ago I rode across Canada to the east coast, took a ferry to Maine, and rode back across the center of the US to Montana, then back up to Alberta. In all, about 25,000 kilometres. I find my mood changes when I reach that imaginary line where I am now heading back towards my home.
As you mention, I’m never really alone. Pretty much every gas stop will see someone asking about my bike, where I’m from, where I’m going etc etc. Even while cleaning my bike outside my accommodations at night, I’ll often have inquiries. But, when I leave that accommodation in the morning, for a time, I feel “homeless” again as I get back on the Hwy. Yet I carry on. And this year, for my 70th year, I will do it all over again. See ya out there!
Wow, you crush some serious miles/kilometers. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your upcoming trips this year.
I had some anxiety on my first ever solo trip but now i have nothing but excitement and totally enjoy my own company and look forward to meeting new people along the way.. Riding solo rocks....
1.26.25. I’ve done a couple of solo motorcycle trips. I retired last spring so this summer I plan on doing a couple of 2 to 3 week solo ventures. I prepare for most of the common issues you can have with a motorcycle, such as flat tires, spare spark plugs, ignition module, ignition, pick ups, I also make sure that my bike is in top condition, such as carburetors being rebuilt and synced. I ride an older 1985 four-cylinder Goldwing GL 1200. I also know how to do all the mechanical and electrical maintenance. As for other problems, such as shady people, I have another companion with me…. Mr .38 Spl 👉🏼I have found the vast majority of people are very friendly, but I always am alert and aware of my surroundings.☝🏼
It sounds like you have some great plans this summer. Being aware of your surroundings is always a good practice.
I relate to the anxiety thing. I made two long-distance round trip solo rides (Hampton, VA to Biloxi MS and Biloxi, MS to Las Vegas) many years ago. I was in my mid 30s and felt bulletproof and immortal. I'm retired now and would like to plan a long one next summer. My anxiety stems from the fact that I'm now 71 but my health is good and my bike is in good shape. I have to try to overcome my anxiety that I think is based on the fact that I'm now aware of my mortality which I think makes the small doubts mushroom up into big ones. During my other trips, I often found myself looking for a hotel at the end of the day when it was after riding too many miles and I was too tired to make good judgements. I was amazed at how hard it could be to find a decent hotel that didn't force me to park my bike out in a 2-acre parking lot with no way to secure it. Most of my riding was done on freeway tarmac and I don't remember seeing very much on the trip to Vegas and back. In those days my itinerary was chosen by the amount of time I could be away from work. On the last day of my return from Vegas I rode 800 miles and don't remember much except a lot of pain. Now that I'm retired, time is not a major issue anymore and stopping early enough in the day to select a hotel that I'm comfortable with will be the way to go. I'll be planning for secondary roads and slightly slower road speeds this time. I have a cell phone but rarely use it. The map function comes in handy if I have to drive/ride through major cities. I'll be taking it to search out hotels and average travel times when needed, but I was raised using road maps and I plan on taking one with me again. The loneliness thing is not a major issue for me. I'm an introvert by nature and usually enjoy my own company, but I am certainly able to converse with strangers. Thanks for reminding me to "enjoy the ride".
regards,
Ken
Yeah, those are some long trips you've done. 800 miles is quite a haul in a day and i have to imagine you were feeling it the next day. I hope you enjoy your next trip and keep doing it as long as possible.
Dude, every time you make a video, it's better than the last! After riding in the bush a few times out of cell service, I ended up getting a two way satellite communicator. I was super anxious about getting hurt and not being able to get help. At the very least I can send my wife a message to say I'm going to be few hours longer than expected even if I get a flat tire in the bush.
Thank you very much. The satellite communicator is nice because you can still get a message out, but yeah, definitely have to keep in mind that doesn't mean help will show up immediately.
How is the bike? Have you had a chance to diagnose the issue yet?
@ my communicator does text so I can message home if I don’t need emergency services…it’s pretty cool. It’s a two way. Cleaned the carb, jets were plugged. Going to test it in the hwy…today hopefully.
Good video it’s brought me one step closer to a solo trip
In my experience once I start the trip all the "what if" thoughts dissipate and I enjoy the ride. Thanks so much for watching.
Not missing this one, I'll have to watch it after work, cheers
Restless - I really enjoyed your video. As a 74 year old guy the thought of venturing out alone is intimidating, exciting and a must do. Thank you for the encouragement. I was wondering what kind of bike you’re on and where were you riding in this video?
Thank you for the feedback. I ride a Yamaha MT 10 and in this video I'm riding northeast of Dallas, Texas, near the towns of Blue Ridge and Celeste.
Good stuff! It is always best to be open-minded to change when solo motorcycle traveling. Sometimes, I try not to think long about a travel plan because I'll ended up changing my mind😄. I will just get out and go. I enjoy solo traveling mostly because I can go at my pace. Thanks for sharing!! Stay safe!!
That's really good advice. Doing it without thinking is good because you don't allow yourself time to think of all the reasons you shouldn't do it. 😆 Thanks a bunch for sharing that tip. Ride safe.
Thank you for this video, it helped a lot.
Thank you very much for the positive feedback.
You definitely have a great voice for narration I''ll say that - makes it very easy to listen to your videos.
I fully understand a lot of what you are relating here. Travel worries are probably far more pronounced simply due the the sheer size of the North American continent - you can be a very long way from anything, far more so than it's possible to be on our little island where even the remotest places aren't that far from civilization. There's also very little likelihood of being killed by the wildlife or the weather over here.
I took a three week road trip to the US west and midwest back in the mid nineties. There were three of us and the excuse was a visit to a friend in the USAF who we had met through motorcycling when he was stationed at RAF Mildenhall, by then back in Great Falls, Montana - one of the bases responsible for the missile silos.
We didn't plan much and only booked a hotel room for our first two nights in SF. Then we just headed out and made it up as we went along. No phones back then, no satnav - just maps. On reflection, the thought of being stranded on a desert highway where we barely saw another vehicle for hours at a time might have, indeed probably should have been daunting but at the time, I guess we weren't "borrowing tomorrow's troubles" as you put it. Maybe we were just not smart enough to worry!
It was a long trip and one I'll never forget. We got to see and experience so much - we would roll up in a town and, if we liked it, find a motel - never had any trouble securing a bed for the night and we met some amazing people on our travels and received tremendous hospitality pretty much every place we wound up in - the real America, not the media version for sure. Covered something like 4500 miles all told - from the west coast across to South Dakota, up to Glacier National Park and the Going To The Sun Road. We saw the Giant Redwoods, Yosemite, The Little Bighorn, The Devil's Tower in Wyoming, Yellowstone, The Needles Highway, and far too much more to list but the states we travelled through included California, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, & South Dakota. As Englishmen, we were a pretty rare oddity in most of the places we found ourselves and that alone led to some long and fascinating cultural encounters and probably too much time spent in too many bars!
😆 I got a good laugh at that last sentence. That's an incredible trip; something a lot of Americans never experience. I imagine people immediately picked up on the English accents and that piqued their interest.
I'm curious what you did for motorcycle maintenance on a trip of that length. Did you find a shop along the way or did you do your own maintenance in a parking lot.
@@RestlessMule Sorry, got carried away with my rambling, I should have made it clear, that wasn't a bike trip although I sorely wish it could have been - we were in a rental Crown Vic 🤣 Not very glamourous but it did the job and it was still an incredible experience.
The accent thing, well, a lot of people figured us for Aussies - oh the horror! One guy, I think it was in West Yellowstone, thought that all English people sounded like the Queen - us peasants soon put that notion to bed.
I'm not sure anyone would have rented us motorcycles even back then - at least not without some kind of mileage limitations and probably a great many other conditions and we obviously couldn't have brought our own with us.
I have done a little riding Stateside but nothing on the scale of that journey. Nowadays, I probably couldn't afford it anymore, even if I had the opportunity. I'm grateful that I got it all done before settling down and having a family when such things had to take a back seat. The cost back then though was cheap, especially since the pound was worth over $2 and gas was about 99c a gallon.
@@Old_Geezer ok, now I understand and have a great mental picture of a group of Englishmen traveling the American West in a Crown Vic. 🤣 I feel like that should be a plot for a movie. Hopefully you realize I don’t mean that to be disrespectful.
I’ll confess I’m not exactly a sophisticated American, but I at least know there are various English accents, and the same is true with Aussies. Granted, I can’t identify them, but I can hear a difference. Truth be told, a lot of Americans have trouble identifying various regional accents of fellow Americans.
I’ve never been to England, but hope to get there someday. I’m not sure how confident I’d be driving on the left side of the road though.
@@RestlessMule No offence taken at all - you're right, it does paint a picture of a string of potential comedic situations and/or disasters 😅
As for sophistication, it's often the case that those who lay claim to it are refined only in their own imagination.
What travelling in America taught me is that each state is almost a country within a country and the differences can be quite marked. As I say, we had nothing but positive experiences and the kind, open, friendly and helpful people we met along the way and how they treated us was one of the best aspects of the whole experience.
If you do ever get to the UK, driving on the left is something you'll adapt to easily enough I'm sure. When I lived in the Cayman Islands, where they drive on the left, there were plenty of American and Canadian drivers who happily drove on the "wrong side of the road" . I drove a Chevy Silverado over there, which was obviously left hand drive but with a right hand drive car, driving on the left feels the natural thing to do.
On two wheels, none of that matters of course 😁
@ You are correct about the differences between states. I was born and raised in Louisiana, but I’ve lived in Texas for over 20 years now. Louisiana is far smaller than Texas, but even within Louisiana accents can vary noticeably depending on what part of the state you’re in.
Ironically, I visited Grand Cayman last summer with my family and that’s the only time I’ve been somewhere that drives on the left side of the road. Within the first 5 minutes of leaving the car rental center I turned on my windshield wipers no less than 8 times when meaning to use the turn signal. I was fine remembering to stay on the left side of the road, but every time I turned I had to remind myself which direction I should be looking for traffic. I was instinctually looking both left and right when I needed to make a left turn.
I took my two kids on a snorkeling trip. A driver picked us up in a Chevy Suburban. He and I chatted for about two or three minutes before I blurted out “wait a minute, you’re on the left side of the car. The steering wheel is on the left!”
I crossed U.S. 3 times in the 70 most of the time I was drunk and stoned. Great time.
Another great video of a very important topic that everyone has experienced at some point in their travels.... As the Magpie Flies is a great channel, I agree
Thank you. I really enjoy watching As the Magpie Flies. Amanda does amazing trips, produces great videos, and she always comes across as down to Earth. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Another great video. You always nail it. Keep it up!!
Thank you very much. Ride safe.
In relation to traveling on my motorcycles the only anxiety I experience is from not being able to ride them in this the dead of winter.
I was forced into a 10 day trip to Spain last year and I had a lot of trepidation even though I’d booked ferry and hotels upfront. I thought about taking a biking friend along who was hinting he’d be very interested, but decided to go solo. I absolutely loved the trip and really wanted it to last far longer and I’ve just booked 14 days in Portugal on another solo trip and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just do it.
Wow, both of those sound like great trips. Thanks for the perspective. Enjoy the ride in Portugal.
Watching from Hamilton, Ontario good video good topic
Thank you. Also, thanks for including your location. I always enjoy when people share where they're from.
Very good music. Thanks and greetings from Germany
Thank you very much and thanks for watching.
Excellent advice.
Thank you.
I certainly have some anxiety but surprisingly not necessarily while I'm riding. Maybe it's just because I'm focused on the task and not thinking about everything else. But I agree with others. Finding a place to stay at the end of the day can be stressful if not prepared.
I've had the same experience. I don't have anxiety when I'm on the ride and out doing things. The anxiety is in the lead up to going on the trip. Fortunately, I've found that it diminishes with each trip I do and the more times I go through it, the more I can look back and say "I'm worrying for no reason; it worked out all those other times." Thanks for sharing your experience.
Great video!
Thank you.
@ 👍🏻
in 8 weeks ill get my first 125ccm bike. in 2 years, i might upgrade to something bigger, but thats all i can afford for now. i cant wait...
This is an exciting time for you. I know the feeling when I'm really looking forward to something I want. I think you'll really enjoy it. Ride safe.
I guess because I’ve been riding solo for about 50 years, I never really thought about being nervous on long trips.
I hope to get there soon. For me the anxiety is most apparent in the lead up and planning and typically once I'm actually doing it everything just fades away and I'm enjoying things. Thanks for watching.
Imagine a cross between Mr Bean and Basil Faulty on a broken down motorbike in a sandstorm in the middle of the Sahara desert ... anyway for me this anxiousness becomes the norm, almost a friend, the issues for me are when I arrive home and my friend departs leaving me somewhat discombobulated and anxious that I am not anxious anymore 🤣
this anxiousness is there for a reason, make a friend of it, it can save your bacon..... go go go people.
😂 that opening line. Thanks for sharing the humorous perspective.
Timing! I literally just released a video yesterday about the benefits of riding with a buddy. 😁 I encourage you, and everyone else, to check it out. Curious to hear your thoughts in contrast to this vid theme. I've ridden for decades, and understand the draw of solo riding, even preferred it during phases. Nice content. Cheers.
I’d rather travel by myself….. less problems and I like to ride backroads the long way without rushing…..
Your description states this is not professional advice. What will it take for you to become a professional? You certainly sound like a professional. Ok, on with the video.
Hit me with the slow fade between clips. Dude! Ok, back to the video…
I personally am not an anxious person so I can only imagine taking a trip, let alone the solo variety, could make one extremely anxious. Having a video like this one is a perfect way to combat the challenge.
When it comes to lodging, I would rather know that there are a few places to choose if my main game plan was to take a detour. There are so many variables involved with travel that are uncontrollable. For example, that flat tire on my truck is a quick 15 min pitstop on the side of the road for me, but if it was on my motorcycle… Instead of anxiety, I would battle unnecessary stress. The last thing you want to do is be stressed out while riding in unfamiliar territory. The problem is reservations are just that. You may stop somewhere in my thought process and see a no vacancy sign. I’ll be sleeping outside it seems. Hearing a wolf howl in this distance, well maybe I would be a little anxious after all.
Your ”what ifs” is Murphy’s Law. It does unfortunately exist. Nice phrase about not borrowing tomorrow’s trouble. Very true. There is enough to worry/plan/enjoy today without getting distracted.
Great video and topic to follow last week’s episode my friend!!!
Yeah, not a professional in the sense that I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. However, I have plenty of experience with it. LOL I've been fortunate that the only time I got a flat on my bike I was only about 20 minutes from my house.
I hope my "what ifs" aren't Murphy's law since that is "anything that can go wrong will go wrong." 😆 Most of my anxiety issues are leading up to the trip and once I'm doing it I get in a groove and it doesn't really bother me.
I hadn't really thought of covering this topic beforehand, but some of the comments I saw on the previous video got me to thinking about it. It was a bit strange that I was a day or two into putting this video together when I saw As the Magpie Flies put out a new video in which she had an issue on her trip that caused her anxiety and she spoke some of her experiences.
BTW, RUclips tells me you're a "top commenter". Kinda seems like they're subtly telling me that you're stalking me. 🤔
@@RestlessMuleglued dude, we glued. 😂
Carry a possibles kit. Put a towing rider on your insurance. Then just wing the rest.
Goldwing that is.
That looks like North Texas.
Love the play on Goldwing; that gave me a laugh. You are correct, it's North Texas; out northeast of Dallas.
@RestlessMule 19 year old Wing. 90k and rolling.
@ I believe with a Goldwing that means you're just about past the break-in period.
@RestlessMule Almost.
Anxiety has NO place on a motorcycle. Besides, riding a motorcycle allows you to DISPLACE anxiety. Everything else is static and unimportant.
I can't tell you how many times I canceled a solo trip because of the "What If" monster. Thanks for the tips....
I understand the feeling completely. Thank you for watching and commenting.